Third gear fails

Richard Winton
Assistant Sports Editor

THE momentum has been halted and Motherwell can breathe a little easier: United's foot has been removed from their throat.

At the end of this tempestuous tussle, Peter Houston's side had only been able to move to within two points of their Fir Park rivals as they pursue the prize of Champions League football. Victory for Stuart McCall's side over St Johnstone then turned that narrow gap to a potentially unassailable five-point chasm with three games remaining.

This, then, was an opportunity missed. United had led twice, but failed to maintain the extraordinary standards set during their recent run.

A back four that has kept seven clean sheets in 10 matches badly missed Gavin Gunning as they conceded twice, albeit Arvydas Novikovas's second equaliser was a sensational strike, while their feted front three were effectively smothered by Hearts' defence.

Houston, though, refused to be downcast. "People will look at this being a downside, but this point has put four between us and Hearts in sixth. If we can get Europe, even through fifth place, it will be a huge achievement."

Disingenuous, perhaps, given the position they had put themselves in and even more so given that United had won all three previous games against the Tynecastle side to nil this term.

But they toiled yesterday against Paulo Sergio's revitalised team and were restricted to speculative shooting. That said, one particular effort paid a rich dividend. There seemed little danger when Ryan McGowan miscued a headed clearance into the centre of the pitch, but Willo Flood took one touch and lashed a fizzing effort past the bewildered goalkeeper.

In recent weeks, United have rarely looked back after establishing an advantage, but there was a different feel about this encounter given that Hearts carried a threat on the ground and in the air. Deprived of the aerial majesty of the injured Gunning, United looked ill at ease when balls were shelled into their area.

In the fourth minute they had been given notice when McGowan headed over from a corner, but that warning was not heeded as Hearts conjured an immediate equaliser to Flood's goal. Robbie Neilson, under pressure from Stephen Elliott, could only direct McGowan's cross back across the area towards Rudi Skacel, and the Czech nudged a cute header into the far corner.

It was a sixth goal in just eight matches for Skacel and further diluted the atmosphere around Tannadice. A consequence of the early kick-off perhaps, it did little to galvanise the hosts with Hearts continuing to enjoy the better openings.

There was nothing particularly subtle about the manner in which they took the ascendancy – Darren Barr skidding past from distance, Danny Grainger having a free-kick pawed past by Dusan Pernis and Marius Zaliukas heading over from a corner – but United risked being overwhelmed. Indeed, it appeared Skacel had scored a second when he met an Andrew Driver cross seven yards from goal, but Pernis somehow threw out a hand to block.

"It was just Hearts trying to win the game in the second half," said manager Sergio. "We had a very poor defensive moment and that is what cost us the victory." Anything less than three points would have eased the pressure on Motherwell, but for all that United were toiling; teams do not win eight out of 10 matches without being resolute.

Having taken more than an hour to earn their first corner, the hosts exploited the opportunity with the moment to which Sergio referred. Flood's scuffed delivery found its way to Gary Mackay-Steven at the back edge of the area and he drilled low through a crowd of players and beyond Jamie MacDonald.

But this Hearts team are not without resolve. David Templeton rattled the crossbar after one rapid break but it was another substitute who struck what appears a grievous blow to United's Champions League ambitions.

Novikovas had been on the pitch for three minutes when he took possession at the apex of the area, shimmied inside his marker and unleashed an outrageous drive across Pernis and high into the far corner of the net. The home support took a sharp intake of breath as Motherwell finally exhaled.

Dundee United (4-4-2): Pernis; Neilson, Dillon, Kenneth, Dixon; Flood, Robertson, Rankin, Mackay-Steven; Russell (Ryan 82), Daly. Sub not used: Banks, Swanson, Watson, Douglas, Armstrong, Dow

Booked: Kenneth 47

Hearts (4-2-3-1): MacDonald; McGowan (Templeton 71), Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Barr, Black; Suso, Skacel, Driver (Novikovas 80); Beattie (Elliott 30)

Subs not used: Ridgers, Taouil, Robinson, Prychynenko. Booked: Barr 22, Zaliukas 31, Suso 78, Webster 90+3.

Referee: William Collum. Att: 7001

Taken from the Herald